China Military Back Up Maritime Law Enforcement

Xinhua

Friday, March 29, 2013

The Chinese military will beef up its cooperation in a move to better protect China's maritime rights and interests.

The military has established coordination mechanisms with marine surveillance departments, fishery administration departments and coast guard forces, in order to cooperate effectively in protecting maritime interests, reports Xinhua.

Administered by the Ministry of Land and Resources, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) has integrated the functions of China Marine Surveillance, the coast guard forces of the Public Security Ministry, the fisheries law enforcement command of the Agriculture Ministry and the maritime anti-smuggling police of the General Administration of Customs.

A four-ship PLAN fleet left south China's Hainan Province to begin drills on March 19, 2013 In response to a question regarding the purpose of an ongoing Chinese naval training exercise in the South China Sea and the western Pacific Ocean, the SOA indicated that the exercise is a regular arrangement in line with the navy's annual training plan.